The Labour Party in Bayelsa barely 24 hours before the state’s governorship election as some party leaders allegedly abandoned the Labour Party governorship candidate, Udengs Eradiri, declaring support for Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others are reportedly rooting for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Timipre Sylva.
Already, some members of the Bayelsa executive of the Labour Party led by its financial secretary, Anthony Oboghor, and the organising secretary, Tovie Pelesai, on Thursday announced their support for Mr Diri.
They claimed they were representing the state executive members of the party.
It was gathered that another faction of the embattled Labour Party executive held a meeting with Mr Sylva at his Yenagoa residence for possible endorsement.
Reacting to the development, the Forum of Labour Party Local Government Chairmen in Bayelsa accused those supporting Mr Diri of collecting N100 million to betray their party.
John Toby, the forum’s chair, told journalists they were not surprised with the development, claiming they had known some of the executive committee members as Diri’s moles in the party.
“As we predicted, these exco members went to the Governor and collected N100 million to endorse him and disown our candidate, Udengs Eradiri, in a press conference. But God has already thrown heavy confusion in their midst because, as we speak, they are fighting over the money.
“They came back and declared N50 million to others and claimed that they sent N50 million to the national headquarters of our party,” said Mr Toby.
Mr Toby, however, said the Labour Party national chair and other executive members denied endorsing the move or collecting such money.
“We want to alert members of the public to be wary of these characters and masquerades. They are only after their selfish interests because they view each election as an opportunity to make money from the state government,” he stated.
He claimed the same individuals diverted and shared money for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign in Bayelsa and almost sabotaged the event.
Toby urged LP supporters not to be distracted from supporting Mr Eradiri, the party’s governorship candidate.
He said all grassroots members of the Labour Party and the Obedient Movement in Bayelsa were behind Mr Eradiri and will emerge victorious on Saturday.